Classic psychedelic and cannabis use among U.S. cancer survivors aged ≥ 50 years: nationally representative estimates by cancer type/site.
| Journal | Cancer causes & control: CCC |
| Study Type | Clinical Study |
| Population | Human participants |
This item covers developments relevant to cannabis medicine and clinical practice. Clinicians monitoring evidence in this area should review the source material.
To examine the prevalence of lifetime (“ever”) cannabis and classic psychedelic use, and their co-use among U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years with versus without a lifetime history of cancer, and to describe variation by cancer type/site among survivors. We analyzed pooled 2015-2019 and 2021-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data of U.S. adults aged ≥ 50 years (Unweighted; n = 42,815 for 2015-2019; n = 21,144 for 2021-2022). Lifetime cannabis and classic psychedelic (LSD, psilocybin, peyote/mescaline) use and cancer history (physician-diagnosed, self-reported) were assessed. Weighted prevalence estimates and 95% CIs were computed, and subgroup analyses by cancer type/site were conducted. Between 2015 and 2019, cannabis use was similar among cancer survivors (41.6%, 95% CI 40.0-43.2) and individuals without cancer (42.6%, 95% CI 42.0-43.2, p = 0.21). LSD (8.9, 95% CI 8.1-9.7 vs 10.3, 95% CI 9.8-10.8) and psilocybin (6.4, 95% CI 5.6-7.3 vs 7.7, 95% CI 7.4-8.1) were lower amon
“This is a development worth tracking. The clinical implications will become clearer as more evidence accumulates.”
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FAQ
What did this study of older cancer survivors set out to measure?
It examined how common lifetime, or ever, use of cannabis and classic psychedelics was, including co-use of both, among U.S. adults aged 50 and older with and without a lifetime history of cancer. It also described how use varied by cancer type or site among survivors.
Where did the data for this cancer survivor study come from?
The researchers pooled National Survey on Drug Use and Health data from 2015 to 2019 and from 2021 to 2022, covering U.S. adults aged 50 and older. The unweighted samples were 42,815 people for 2015 to 2019 and 21,144 for 2021 to 2022. They computed weighted prevalence estimates and ran subgroup analyses by cancer type or site.
Were older cancer survivors more likely to have used cannabis?
No. In the 2015 to 2019 data, lifetime cannabis use was similar among cancer survivors (41.6%, 95% CI 40.0 to 43.2) and people without cancer (42.6%, 95% CI 42.0 to 43.2), and the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.21). In both groups, roughly four in ten adults aged 50 and older reported ever using cannabis.
Which psychedelics were included, and how was cancer history determined?
Classic psychedelics in this study were LSD, psilocybin and peyote or mescaline, and lifetime use of these was assessed alongside lifetime cannabis use. Cancer history was based on self-report of a physician diagnosis, meaning participants reported whether a doctor had diagnosed them with cancer.
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